Whenever you're comparing auto insurance rates between companies or brokers, be certain that everyone is quoting the same liability limits. The State of California requires minimum liability limits of:
Bodily Injury: $15,000 per person / $30,000 per accident
Property Damage: $5,000 per accident
Minimum limits are seldom enough coverage for even the simplest accidents. Think about how many cars on the road are worth more than $5,000. If you have an accident and it's your fault, you will be responsible for the damages to the other person's car in excess of $5,000. The same is true if you injure one or more people in the other car. $15,000 for any one person and $30,000 for everyone in their car is probably too low to cover all their medical bills in a serious accident.
The easiest way to be certain you don't find yourself the object of a lawsuit for excess damages, is to purchase higher limits when you buy a policy. Sufficient limits for most people would be as follows:
Bodily Injury: $100,000 per person / $300,000 per accident
Property Damage: $50,000 per accident
With these limits, the average person is well protected. Those with more assets should consider even higher limits. The cost to raise the liability limits from the state minimums to the recommended level is not as much as most people think. For adult drivers with good driving records, the difference is minimal. For younger drivers, or drivers with tickets and accidents, the difference is much higher.
Please feel free to contact us with any questions regarding your policy.
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